Cincinnati Enquirer shifts to digital certificates for high school athlete awards
Following feedback that families were not receiving mailed awards, the publication announced the 2025-2026 Athletes of the Week on May 22, with winners selected by Cincinnati.com readers based on action through May 17.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, in partnership with Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, announced its 2025-2026 Athletes of the Week on May 22. The awards recognise high school teams and individuals from Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana. Selections were determined by Cincinnati.com readers based on athletic performance through May 17. The announcement covers a diverse range of sports, including baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and flag football. Digital certificates for the recipients are accessible via a public Dropbox link.
The publication confirmed it will no longer mail physical certificates to schools, a decision made after receiving feedback that families were not receiving the previous mail-in awards. Alex Harrison will make digital copies of all certificates available to families by 8 a.m. the Monday following the Friday announcement. Families can access the PDFs through the public Dropbox link and are encouraged to email a photo of the winners with their certificates for the publication’s photo gallery.
The winners include teams and individuals from across the tri-state region. In Ohio big-school baseball, Max Kimble of Milford was recognised for his performance in a 7-4 win over Harrison. Summit Country Day’s Lucas Reder was named Ohio small-school baseball athlete of the week after recording three hits and three RBIs, including the walk-off hit in an 11th-inning victory over Madeira.
In Northern Kentucky and Indiana, Gabe Goodridge of Boone County was selected for big-school baseball after recording four hits, a home run, and five RBIs in an 18-6 win over Dayton. K.J. Nussbaum of Lloyd Memorial was named small-school baseball athlete of the week after pitching a three-inning perfect game in a 15-0 win over Williamstown.
The awards also extended to other sports, including flag football, where Addy Vaughan of Mount Notre Dame was recognised after helping the Cougars reach the title game of the inaugural Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament. In lacrosse, Jake Holleran of Turpin and Cole Grimes of Dixie Heights were honoured for their goalkeeping performances in playoff and district championship victories.
[TITLE] Cincinnati Enquirer names high school athletes of the week [/TITLE] [KICKER] The Cincinnati Enquirer has discontinued the mailing of physical certificates for its weekly high school sports awards, replacing the system with a public Dropbox link for digital access. [/KICKER] [DEK] Following feedback that families were not receiving mailed awards, the publication announced the 2025-2026 Athletes of the Week on May 22, with winners selected by Cincinnati.com readers based on action through May 17. [/DEK] [BODY] The Cincinnati Enquirer, in partnership with Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, announced its 2025-2026 Athletes of the Week on May 22. The awards recognise high school teams and individuals from Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Indiana. Selections were determined by Cincinnati.com readers based on athletic performance through May 17. The announcement covers a diverse range of sports, including baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and flag football. Digital certificates for the recipients are accessible via a public Dropbox link.
The publication confirmed it will no longer mail physical certificates to schools, a decision made after receiving feedback that families were not receiving the previous mail-in awards. Alex Harrison will make digital copies of all certificates available to families by 8 a.m. the Monday following the Friday announcement. Families can access the PDFs through the public Dropbox link and are encouraged to email a photo of the winners with their certificates for the publication’s photo gallery.
The winners include teams and individuals from across the tri-state region. In Ohio big-school baseball, Max Kimble of Milford was recognised for his performance in a 7-4 win over Harrison. Summit Country Day’s Lucas Reder was named Ohio small-school baseball athlete of the week after recording three hits and three RBIs, including the walk-off hit in an 11th-inning victory over Madeira.
In Northern Kentucky and Indiana, Gabe Goodridge of Boone County was selected for big-school baseball after recording four hits, a home run, and five RBIs in an 18-6 win over Dayton. K.J. Nussbaum of Lloyd Memorial was named small-school baseball athlete of the week after pitching a three-inning perfect game in a 15-0 win over Williamstown.
The awards also extended to other sports, including flag football, where Addy Vaughan of Mount Notre Dame was recognised after helping the Cougars reach the title game of the inaugural Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament. In lacrosse, Jake Holleran of Turpin and Cole Grimes of Dixie Heights were honoured for their goalkeeping performances in playoff and district championship victories.
